Sales of used homes fell 5.1 per cent in January to an annual pace of 4.62 million units, down from the rate of 4.87 million in December, according to the National Association of Realtors.

But investors have given less weight to weak data due to severe winter weather that has depressed activity in much of the United States, said Bill Lynch, director of investment at Hinsdale Associates.

"Because of the extreme weather across the country, they're willing to give the economic data a pass, at least for now," Lynch said.

"The market is just consolidating those gains from last week and waiting for something in terms of direction," he said.

Trade was heavy in online shopping deals distributor Groupon, which plunged 21.9 per cent after it forecast a first-quarter loss and slow profit growth for the whole year 2014.

Earnings at online travel company Priceline jumped 41.9 per cent to $US1.3 billion on a big increase in customer bookings. Shares rose 2.5 per cent.

Hewlett-Packard fell 1.3 per cent despite a 16 per cent rise in earnings and a surprise pickups in server and personal computer sales. Credit Suisse said the computer giant's "fundamental outlook remains challenged across all business lines."

Barnes & Noble surged 5.4 per cent to $US17.69. Investment firm G Asset Management offered Friday to take a controlling 51 per cent stake in the troubled US bookseller for $US22 a share, valuing the company at $US1.3 billion.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury dipped to 2.73 per cent from 2.75 per cent Thursday, while the 30-year declined to 3.70 per cent from 3.73 per cent. Bond prices and yields move inversely.